FC Bayern beat Werder Bremen 4-2 in their first home match this year. Jérôme Gondorf handed the visitors the lead midway through the first half, Thomas Müller levelling the scores before half-time. Robert Lewandowski put Bayern in front after the hour mark. Niklas Süle soon scored an unlucky own-goal, but Bayern's Polish hitman stepped up once again to restore the lead before Müller added gloss to the scoreline in the closing stages.

The Bavarians started with Sven Ulreich in goal and Joshua Kimmich, Jérôme Boateng, Süle and Juan Bernat in a back four. Javi Martínez anchored a midfield featuring Arjen Robben, Thomas Müller, James and Franck Ribéry, with Lewandowski as sole striker.

Jupp Heynckes made two changes to the XI that saw off Leverkusen last weekend. Bernat and Lewandowski took over from David Alaba and Arturo Vidal.

Crucial equaliser

The 75,000 capacity crowd at the Allianz Arena saw a highly entertaining, up-tempo contest of two contrasting sides. Bremen sprang a surprise, pressing high up the field and playing vertically. Five minutes had been played when James found Lewandowski in the box, but the Pole could not quite connect to the ball. Max Kruse's header soon shaved the post at the other end. Bayern shone with crisp passing and sustained combinations now but failed to find the final ball. A Müller effort was blocked before Lewandowski glanced a header over the bar.

Sven Ulreich was the busier of the keepers after 20 minutes, and Bremen made their pressure count when Kruse's throughball found Gondorf, who overcame Ulreich. Bremen were looking to double the lead but Ulreich proved equal to Thomas Delaney's 18-yarder. The champions upped the pressure but saw a number of efforts blocked. Bayern had the home crowd on their feet shortly before half-time, when Boateng's long ball found Müller in the box. The native Bavarian shone with an excellent first touch and an acrobatic finish, leaving Werder netminder Jiri Pavlenka no chance.

Scorching second half

The champions went straight onto the front foot after the restart. A Ribéry cross evaded Lewandowski before the Frenchman failed to control a Robben cross. A deflected Gondorf effort went over the bar before James' pinpoint cross found Lewandowski, who fired just wide from 12 yards. Jupp Heynckes shuffled his deck, Arturo Vidal and Kingsley Coman replacing Martínez and Robben, and their arrivals galvanised the home side. Pavlenka made a strong save to deny Vidal.

Bayern were rewarded for their efforts when Lewandowski connected with a James cross to head home. Munich almost settled the issue but Pavlenka stood out with a strong save against Lewandowski, Ribéry seeing the rebound cleared off the line. Süle put through his own goal following a dangerous cross, but Lewandowkski overcame Pavlenka once more with an outstanding header from 12 yards. Ulreich performed miracles to deny Junuzovic' 20-yarder, but Bayern went for the jugular when Thomas Müller rounded off his brace, making the most of James' most delicate of chips, and match official Robert Kampka blew for full-time.

The result takes Bayern onto 47 points from 19 matches, 16 clear of Bayer Leverkusen. The Reds are back in action next Saturday, when they entertain Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga.

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